Bosch PS130-2A Hammer Drill/Driver

Bosch PS130-2A Hammer Drill/Driver

Not too many power tools can be stowed away in a kitchen drawer and also put a hole in a brick wall. Bosch has been releasing pistol-sized 12-volt drivers since 2006, and the tools got ridiculously useful with the addition of a masonry-punching hammer function. At 2.3 pounds, this one's zippy 3/8-inch chuck bites on a bit and kicks a little when you pull the trigger. It's got oomph. But owning it also means you have no excuse as to why you can't hang a pot rack, assemble a bookshelf, or tighten up a deck rail today.

Milwaukee 12-volt jigsaw

Milwaukee 12-volt jigsaw

Don't kid yourself. There is not room in your life for a compound sliding miter saw. And using dad's old Disston for a few crosscuts in 2x4s conjures the unpleasant illusion that you're building a boat. But you've got boards to shorten. Give yourself a chance at a passably straight cut, in seconds, with Milwaukee's cordless 12-volt jigsaw. The battery's charge lasts for enough cuts to rip plywood into a set of pantry shelves, and a tool-free lever pops the blade out like an ejected shell casing. Change the blade. It's fun.